Combined folding ironing-board and step-ladder.



W. B. LA MASTERS. comnmm) FOLDING moume BOARD AND STEP LADDER.

APPLIOATION IILBD DEC. 31, 1913;

1,101,294, rammed June 23,1914

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3 noeMM lilifliafiaaters W. B. LA MASTERS. COMBINED FOLDING IBONING BOARD AND STEP LADDER. APPLICATION FILED DBO. a1, 1913.

. 1, 9 Patentd June 23, 1914.

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WILLIAM B. LA MASTERS, or SAN MARCIAL, NEW MEXICO.

COMBINED FOLDING IRONING-BOARD AND STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 31, 1913.

Patented June 23, 1914. Serial No. 809,687.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. LA MAs- TERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Marcial, in the county of Socorro and State of New Mexico, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Folding Ironing-Boards and Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a combined folding ironing board and step ladder and resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and falling Within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figurel is a perspective view showing the device set up asan ironing board, Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device in the form of a step ladder, the supporting legs for the ironing board being folded against the sides of the ladder, Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating the frame spread outwardly of the ladder to provide a support for articleswhich may be used by the person upon the ladder, Fig. 1 is a central transverse sectional view through the device with the frame in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a detail plan view looking toward the inner face ofthe lower end of the board, showing the manner in which the sleeve board sustains the combination foot and brace member, and Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view through the end of the device when set up as an ironing board, and illustrating the manner whereby the sleeve board prevents an upward movement of the ironing board.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the ladder is indicated by the numeral 1, and may be, and preferably is, of the usual construction of ordinary step ladders, including the side stiles 2 and connecting steps 3. The stiles, in the upper ends thereof have each secured thereto a bracket 4 which has its upper portion provided with an inturned flange, and each of the said brackets extends a suitable distance beyond the inner edges of the stiles, while connected with the said brackets is the top member or platform 5 for the ladder.

. The ironing board is designated by'the numeral 6, and is of a width approximately equaling that of the ladder, but is prefer-- ably of a length slightly less than the stiles of the ladder. One end of the board is rounded, and is providedupon what may be termed its lower face with a transversely.

arranged bar or cleat 7, which is secured to the end of the board in any desired or preferred manner, and connected with the sides as well as with the ends of the cleat are substantially L-shaped metallic plates 8. The cleats are each provided with an opening which is adapted to register with a similar opening in the side members of each of the brackets 4, the said openings being provided for the reception of pivot members 9. The inner face of the board 6 and one of the steps of the ladder are provided with eyes to receive the opposite ends of a flexible member 10, which is preferably in the nature of a chain and which serves as a means for limiting the spreading of the ladder from the board. The step, to which the flexible member 10 is connected has its underface provided with transversely arranged blocks which are also secured to the sides of the ladder, and the said blocks have their lower and inner corners notched, as at 12.

The free end of the board is rounded, and its side edges are preferably inclined or of an arcuate formation to their juncture with the said rounded end; The board, at a suitable distance away from its end, is provided adjacent its opposite edges with bearings 13 within which is journaled the upper arm 14 of a combined foot and spacing member. This member is preferably constructed from a piece of heavy metal of tubiform formation, and the side arms 15 thereof have their lower portions curved outwardly and terminating in inwardly curved feet 16, the rounded ends of the feet being continued inwardly to a lower connecting portion 17, and this portion, when the device is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, is adapted to underlie a plate 18 which is arranged centrally of the board 6. The board, below the plate is provided with a substantially U-shaped keeper 19, and the said board above the arm 14 of the combined foot and spacing member is provided with a metallic clip 20, the said clip adapted to receive the upper and enlarged portion of a sleeve board 21, while the opposite and reduced end of the board is passed through the keeper 19, so that the upper and lower transverse arms 14: and 17 of the combined footand spacing members are efl'ectively retained in proper position upon the board to receive the weight upon the ladder. It willbe noted that the feet 16 are disposed a suitable distance below the rounded end of to sustain the ironing board in a horizontal position, I have plvotally secured to the brackets 4: the legs 24 of a frame 25. The frame is provided with one or a number of connecting bars 26 and each of the legs has pivotally connected therewith a link 27 l which is adapted to co-act with a similar link 28 provided upon the stiles of the ladder, and these links 27 and 28 are in turn pivotally connected to provide a carriage joint 29. 'It will be noted that the links must be swung inwardly before the said links and frame can be folded against the ladder, and as a consequence I have'found it desirable, in some instances, to sustain the frame 25 in the position just described, when the device is employed as a step ladder, the legs as well as the connecting bar or bars of 'the frame providing effective means for sustaining articles'thereon so that the same will be within ready reach of the person upon the ladder.

The platform 5 projects a suitable distance beyond the face of the said board, and the projecting portion is provided with an elongated opening 30, the lower wall of which is flush with that of the outer or working face of the board, and the board 21 is provided with a substantially L-shaped bracket 22, the lower and horizontal member of which is adapted to pass through the opening 30 so that the ame will contact with the face of theironing board, and prevent an upward swinging movement of the said board, and so retain the feet of the spacing member within the notches 12 of the blocks 11.

From the above description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, the simplicity of the device as well as the advantages thereof will, it is thought, be

perfectly apparent to those skilled in the art to which such inventions appertain without further detailed description.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

- 1. In a device of the class set forth, a ladder including a platform, a board pivotally secured beneath the platform, a combined foot and spacing member journaled upon spring means for retaining the removable member in engagement with the combined foot and spacing member. I

2. In a device for the purpose set forth, a ladder having brackets at the upper ends of its stiles, a platform secured to the brackets,

an ironing board pivotally connected with the brackets, a flexible element between the board and ladder to limit the swinging movement of the said board and ladder, a combined support and foot fmember journaled in bearings upon the ironing board and adapted to project below the foot board, an auxiliary board removably connected with the ironing board and adapted to contact with the combined support and foot member to sustain the same longitudinally of the board. 8. In a device for the purpose set forth, a ladder having its stiles, at one of its ends provided with brackets, a platform secured to the brackets, av frame connected with the said upper end of the ladder, said frame comprising a pair of connected leg members and a pair of jointed stop links providing supports for the leg members, an ironing board pivotally connected with the brackets, means for limiting the swinging movement of the board away from the ladder, a combined support and foo-t member journ'aled in bearings upon the inner face of the board and adapted to extend beyond the board when the device is set up as a ladder, a supporting plate for the support and foot member, a keeper plate upon the board, a metallic clip upon the board, a sleeve board having a reduced end adapted to be engaged by the clip and keeper and to bear against the support and foot member, and the stiles of the ladder having notched blocks which are adapted to receive the foot portions of the combined support and foot member when the device 1s set up as an ironlng board.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 7 in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM B. LA MASTERS. IVitnesses PAT. J. SAVAGE, Jr., IV. L. GALLAGHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by, addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

